Politics in 2007: Year of the Bert

With the Bertiegate scandal and the re-election of Fianna Fail it seems 2007 was a hot year in politics. Another election came and went with five years of the party being given the green light.

 The election kicked off with all the showmanship expected from the Irish political spectrum. Also in the running was a weak coalition who based there policies on issues that effected mules rather than actual people.

Headed by Enda Kenney and – the now defunct – Pat Rabbitte, whose parties streamlined themselves on the Americanized tag line “Alliance for Change”, spin doctors hired by both parties believed would win them seats. It would turn out to do nothing of the sort. With “Bertie’s Team” eventually winning 51 seats, stabbing there opposition in the back.

The win was despite the Bertiegate revelations. In the run-up to the election a leaked publication showed evidence of personal financial transactions in December of 1993 to the then Finance Minister, Bertie Ahern.

While the Irish Times broke the story, it was only six days later the allegations were answered by the Taoiseach. Ahern admitted in a RTE interview that he had received two payments totalling IR£39,000 (€50,000) in 1993 and 1994. He regarded the money as a “loan”, and conceded that in September 2006 no repayments had been made and no interest has been paid. He claimed the 25 businessmen in Manchester were just “friends”, adding the money was again a “gift” and therefore not subject to tax as it had been received when abroad.

At the Mahon Tribunal in September, Ahern said, “The reason I probably can’t give you a better reflection of what I was doing on January 19 is because I didn't do it.”

The Greens entered government with Fianna Fail, but compromised what baggage they could bring in the door – issues, such as the building of the M3 motorway beside the archaeologically important Hill of Tara, and the Shell gas refinery with local opposition, were left behind.

The election brought with it the fall of the iron men. Ex-PD leader Michael McDowell advocated how effective his plans were to deal with Ireland’s apparently escalating criminality and Pat Rabbitte trying his hand leading the Labour Party into the ground.

Rabbitte would later do just that, and McDowell would subsequently die away into the abyss of Irish Politics after losing his seat in the General Election. The fall, particularly on Mc Dowell’s part, was the quickest in recent Irish history. His political death bed statement advocated how he is “Proud of his country, and proud to be Irish”, before being booed into his Government car never to be seen again.
The West was on the radar this year. Galway city’s water supply hit the headlines when the water was found to be contaminated with both human and animal waste.

Meanwhile, a little south, the newly free market Aer Lingus caused political uproar when it was revealed that Shannon Airport’s Heathrow slots were switched to Belfast.

With Irish politics aside, Iraq looked everyday more like a train wreak, Europe had a fight on its hands this time French vs French as temperamental Sakozy was determined to take a firm grip upon his country, and across the channel, the Gordon and Dave show continued with British politics becoming a competitive sport once again.

The year also proved itself to be the stomping ground for US presidential candidates with its official kick-off earlier in the year. Hilliary Clinton became the Democrats’ forerunner, although this is to be officially determined over the coming weeks and months.

- Liam Cahill